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Do you ever shop online or wander around crowded isles and instantly feel overwhelmed by the plethora of items to choose from? Well, the amount of stuff we’re bombarded with daily is through the roof. With millions of products available to buy at the click of a button, folks are constantly uncovering heaps of original ideas. From cool concepts that solve modern problems to things you didn’t even realize you wanted, there's plenty of temptations.

But once you scroll past the innovative and the necessary, things tend to take a bizarre turn. And there's one online destination dedicated to poking fun at the side of consumerism where the level of weirdness is way above normal. So let us introduce you to the 'Strangest Products' online community on Reddit. Thousands of members have set out to share pictures of the most unusual gadgets, oddest product designs, and bizarre inventions that almost certainly challenge the boundaries of imagination.

Our product-loving team here at Bored Panda has gone through their feed and gathered some of the strangest items you can buy, but really shouldn’t. So continue scrolling to check out the images below, hit upvote on the most baffling ones, and let us know which of these products you loved and hated most in the comments!

#1

Yoda Bookend

Yoda Bookend

SuperPixel Report

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OGA
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why in the world is this on a list of things we probably wouldn't want?

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#3

Then Do The Boogie Woogie And You Turn Around And Thats What Its All About! (Read The Whole Thing!)

Then Do The Boogie Woogie And You Turn Around And Thats What Its All About! (Read The Whole Thing!)

KitCat430 Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, love it. Although shouldn't the title read "do the hokey pokey" not "do the boogie woogie"?

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Nowadays, we’re used to well-thought-out products. We expect quality and value because, after all, companies and designers invested their time, money, and ideas into bringing these items to the shelves and, consequently, into our homes. The whole definition of product design is to solve our problems and satisfy specific needs that arise in a given market, but things happen and some strategies miss the mark entirely. And when people say that all things have a function and a purpose, they've probably never come across a vertical chess board or an enormous punchable Enter Key that certainly bends the limits of imagination.

"Welcome to Strangest Products," as the moderators write in the community description. Ever since its creation in 2017, the group has been steadily growing and sharing the weirdest findings they discover with everyone online. Scrolling through their feed and seeing objects that are light years away from their goal can be baffling. However, it’s also undeniably entertaining to see these creations and poke fun at their ridiculous designs. Heck, some may even make you stop and shout, "Take my money!" And you probably won’t be the only one.

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#4

Phone Case With Actual Working Emulator With 36 Games. I Have It, It Works Great!

Phone Case With Actual Working Emulator With 36 Games. I Have It, It Works Great!

psoeting Report

#5

Forget Real State, You Can’t Afford It Anyway. Millennials Monopoly

Forget Real State, You Can’t Afford It Anyway. Millennials Monopoly

Jennyrelleni Report

#6

I Dont Know Where Else To Post This Gem

I Dont Know Where Else To Post This Gem

gestrn Report

After all, good design isn’t easy, and creating something that has a purpose and is pleasant to interact with requires years of learning and experience in the field. To learn more about blunders in the product design world, we reached out to Mike Doell, an industrial designer and president of the Toronto-based studio Ross + Doell Inc. When asked about the poor design solutions we stumble upon these days, he told us that 'bad' is a relative term and often leads to never-ending conversations.

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#9

Internal House Bird Feeder With Two Way Mirror

Internal House Bird Feeder With Two Way Mirror

MadroxKran Report

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Enigma wrapped in a paradox
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not particularly practical design but I guess if you're a bird lover, have the money and space 🤷🏼‍♀️

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Doell pointed out several explanations for why products sometimes don’t turn out as expected. "A few reasons are low budgets, inexperience, super tight deadlines, and risk intolerance. This often leads to copying a successful product without fully understanding it or the thought process involved," he explained to Bored Panda. Moreover, when designers leave out or alter features and details, it can "adversely affect the product if you don't fully understand what you are copying."

But making ideas into reality is a lot harder than you’d think, something that often leads to bizarre gadgets being released into the wild. The industrial designer explained that they look strange to us because they were simply created at the wrong place and wrong time. "May not be appropriate for the target market," Doell added.

#11

Limited Edition

Limited Edition

dankvader08 Report

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#12

The Ultimate Plumber T-Shirt

The Ultimate Plumber T-Shirt

Jennyrelleni Report

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Teampandas GF
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It says "business/handiwork is more attractive than you think" and it's (made as if (?)) part of an add to attract people to apply for these jobs.

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One key characteristic of odd products is feature creep. "Those responsible for new product development often pile on unnecessary features and visual details thinking they will add value," he said. This is also known as scope creep and refers to excessive features that usually make the product too complicated to use.

As David Bishop, a designer and researcher, explained in his LinkedIn post, to understand what feature creep means, you just have to visualize a universal remote control. "Can you understand what all those buttons do? Have you ever actually pressed any of those tiny ones hiding down at the bottom? I didn’t think so."

#15

Motorized Pool Float

Motorized Pool Float

KermitMadMan Report

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Isaac7lego🇺🇸
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want this, unecessary for a pool but could be really fun on a slow river or lake

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For a moment, just imagine how delightful it is to use things that are simple and intuitive. Good design requires creators to think about and understand others. While it doesn't come naturally for most, it certainly makes things better. Unfortunately, overcomplicated products are being forced on consumers these days, and the reason behind it is a simple one: competition.

"A product appears on the market. It gains a following and a dedicated user base. Those users want their beloved product to get even better, so they have ideas and requests for how it might be updated in version 2.0. At the same time, a competitor appears and perhaps even offers some of the very features users have been requesting," Bishop wrote, adding that the market often compares the two by their features. While most of us might believe that the most fully loaded product is immediately the superior one, that’s rarely the case.

#17

This Bluetooth Shower Speaker Is Powered By A Micro Hydroelectric Generator

This Bluetooth Shower Speaker Is Powered By A Micro Hydroelectric Generator

danontwowheels Report

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#18

Truly Terrifying Product

Truly Terrifying Product

Nitrosaber Report

Interestingly, adding more features to the product can make designers believe they’re thinking about the user's needs and what they might need in any future situation. But "designing something that can be used in every imaginable situation usually means that it doesn’t work as well in more common situations."

Bishop pointed out that the best way to fight scope creep is to rethink simplicity. "In fact, simplicity is itself a feature—and one of the most powerful tools for making users more efficient, effective, and satisfied with a product. Don’t think of removing a function from a product as taking something away; think of it as adding simplicity."

#19

This Is The Most Important Purchase Of Your Lives

This Is The Most Important Purchase Of Your Lives

HyperExtreme Report

#20

A Punchable Enter Key

A Punchable Enter Key

stuetel Report

#21

Big Articulated Fingers...

Big Articulated Fingers...

unknown Report

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Little Wonder
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes okay but I do want these. If I can learn to type with them it would really brighten up my work day.

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If you want to avoid creating more problems with your designs while also creating new products, Doell told us that it’s important to always think about the user. "Not just the end user, but also the person that assembles, repairs, sells, etc." Moreover, if you feel like almost everything worthwhile has already been invented, don’t feel discouraged. There are plenty of ways to find a new niche where you can show off your brilliant ideas and talent.

Plus, your inventions don’t have to be completely new. The industrial designer pointed out that creators can just take a specific item and put in the effort to make it better. "You do not have to be first," he added. "[But] take the time to understand the task, it is never as simple as you think it is."

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#26

Mini Cinder Blocks So You Can Build Your Own Tiny House

Mini Cinder Blocks So You Can Build Your Own Tiny House

taylorjo53 Report

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Laura Mende (Human)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I know these. Never had it but I know people who played with it when children. There ate even sets: build a house, church, water mill... Bricks, cement mix, even the shingles for the roof, all inclusive. But expensive sets.

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#27

This Is Pretty Cool

This Is Pretty Cool

mads12385 Report

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Great Pyrenees
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems right to me. It's not like Kirby breathes IN. no, that wouldn't make sense would it

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#29

The Bean Bag Onesie. Aka: Junk In The Trunk Onesie

The Bean Bag Onesie. Aka: Junk In The Trunk Onesie

culloden97402 Report

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Sawdust
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Please come in and take a seat." "No thanks...I've already got one." *sunglasses fall into place*

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#30

Love This AirPods Case

Love This AirPods Case

theshopolics Report

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Daffodil
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually adorable. I'm starting to think this list is "Mostly good things that some old person with no love left for the world doesn't like, sprinkled on with some actual stupidity"

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#33

Found This Gem At My Local Walmart. Teach Them Young

Found This Gem At My Local Walmart. Teach Them Young

TheScienceNerd100 Report

#34

Good Bye Marvel

Good Bye Marvel

lostproton Report

#38

Strange Taste

Strange Taste

JustSomeGuy_Idk Report

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Daffodil
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, those would both be hilarious though. I kinda want them, especially the finger one.

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#40

Someone Actually Uses This Thing?

Someone Actually Uses This Thing?

Ironpoptart Report

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#42

Finally, A Hand Sanitizer That Addresses Our Real Concerns

Finally, A Hand Sanitizer That Addresses Our Real Concerns

De_Omnibus Report

#43

Octopus-Shaped Decanter By Josh Dewall

Octopus-Shaped Decanter By Josh Dewall

SalazarRED Report

#44

What Is This For? To Babysit Your Friend's Watermelon?

What Is This For? To Babysit Your Friend's Watermelon?

Matthiasiam Report

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The Scout
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, a densuke watermelon (extremely expensive special japanese melon, https://thegardenmagazine.com/densuke-watermelons-the-black-watermelon-that-costs-a-fortune/) goes for up to 6000$ apiece, so having a special transport/cooling device makes sense.

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#45

Chocolate Pizza...actually, It Was Delicious

Chocolate Pizza...actually, It Was Delicious

Wollfisch Report

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Teampandas GF
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There once was a brand over here that sold chocolate pizza. It was disgusting. The stopped producing it after one season.

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#49

Blursed_smile

Blursed_smile

AerDragun Report

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Great Pyrenees
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nobody is going to talk about the arguably just as cursed abs and swimsuit

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#52

How Much Do U Like Coffee?

How Much Do U Like Coffee?

icey1324 Report

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Teampandas GF
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had one like that but with a pretty gothic print. Sadly it broke after a few uses

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#54

I Could Actually Get Down With These

I Could Actually Get Down With These

Fleabagfriend Report

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troufaki13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Noooo.... the best thing about eating cheese puffs is licking the dust off of your fingers!

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#60

The Harry Potter Remote Control Wand

The Harry Potter Remote Control Wand

SwimminginSpace92 Report

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Minath
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have this, it's a bit of a pain to set up but it's fun to use. It doesn't take long for the novelty to wear off though.

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#61

This Is Five Thousand Six Hundred Dollars

This Is Five Thousand Six Hundred Dollars

redditpickle97 Report

#62

Hot Wheels Gopro Mount

Hot Wheels Gopro Mount

OblivionsMemories Report

#64

Hunt For A Lake Monster Anyone?

Hunt For A Lake Monster Anyone?

KTR665 Report

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#66

How To Start A Fight At Family Game Night

How To Start A Fight At Family Game Night

Error428 Report

#67

cameron13532 Report

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Ferret
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who noticed on the side of this is says "Turn Your A*****e Green".

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#72

The Smallest Bicycle In The World

The Smallest Bicycle In The World

Yumi_knuts Report

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#73

This Poptart Scented Toaster Bathbomb

This Poptart Scented Toaster Bathbomb

Lmnopbb Report

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Mistiekim
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s a MSCHF. There is an app that you can download and there are these drops of products that are only available for a certain time\quantity that you can buy. The products are usually fun things like this.

#74

Somebody Probably Got A Promotion For This

Somebody Probably Got A Promotion For This

nigglebit Report

#80

Can’t Believe They Weren’t Snatched Up Immediately

Can’t Believe They Weren’t Snatched Up Immediately

Boozy_Peach Report

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#82

SirMalcolmK Report

#83

Cause Who Would Give This To Their Child?

Cause Who Would Give This To Their Child?

Ivette2020 Report